Monzon vs McCallum

Aye, imo John. The Watson version of McCallum at middle, or even the huge at 154 version who for example dismantled the likes of Skouma ( and was effectively a good sized middleweight in all but name) was better than the past prime versions of Benvenuti and Griff. In Griffiths case, perhaps more that McCallum was naturally bigger and more at a physical apex without comparable physical disadvantages to circircumnavigate. He had quite a few similarities to my eye to the peak Griffith.

I'd say too that Mike had the clear edge over the slightly slowed down, distracted, post -car crash/illness version of Valdez that Monzon faced. Certainly physically bigger and not hindered by the type of bogtrotting footwork when trying to dictate exchanges that hindered Valdez even against lesser fighters like Robles, although with lesser one punch power no doubt.

In some ways he was sort of an amalgamation of several of the traits of Griffith and Valdez, but in a bigger body and not past his peak.

one thing I think gets ignored a bit when I've seen the matchup mentioned in the past is McCallum having the sort of lanky physical dimensions, excellent jab and technical multi-layered box-punching skillset required to potentially compete effectively with Monzon at mid to long range. Not really at a big speed disadvantage either, neither hand nor foot.

I'd still probably favour the 70-72/3 Monzon out of respect by a similar margin as you said above. 9-6ish in an excellent purist type of fight. Trying to snipe and out - counter counter each other, out angle each other, frame, wrestle, push, forearm each other and dictate range etc at ring centre by controlling the circular moving exchangea behind their jabs and contrasting evasive/countering approaches. Monzon could sometimes be slow in the early/mid rounds to time or avoid counter jabs and attempts to slip under and inside his establishing early attempts to figure out the lay of the land, and McCallum was highly adept at both.

Going back though, I sometimes forget how that bit quicker, elasticized, limber, technically neater and spiteful hitting the title winning/early reign Monzon was than the post-Napoles version. He stiffened and slowed significantly after that time for well known reasons and I don't think he ever looked as loose, mean and heavy handed again as in the Benvenuti fights. That version is probably a tall order for McCallum to ever truly establish a controlling rhythm against and impose himself consistently by his preferred means. Monzon was very underrated at using the cradle/shell technique in conjunction with swaying and twisting his upper body away from incoming fire while always keeping his feet underneath himself, and then quickly transitioning with hard counters against over-extended or poorly angled attempts. Or, if not in a position to do so, to use the very effective wrestling techniques taught to him by Brusa to throw people about and wear them down (though McCallum himself was very good at this, though more from a technical standpoint than imposing physical one, and very spiteful and crafty to boot). I'd still lean though towards Monzon being lither, stronger and less likely to tire in that regard as the fight went on.

 

Monzon by clear 15 round decision with possibly even scoring a late round ko. The Monzon who twice destroyed an aging Benvenuti and only the second man to stop teak tough Emile Griffith.

Griffith was not at his peak but he had run up 10 straight victories at middleweight including wins over dangerous fighters like Rafael Guttierez (beat Curtis Cokes, Luis Rodriguez and dropped Briscoe twice and competed at in the light-heavy division after Emile trounced him), Dick Tiger, beat the 53-0-1 Tom Bogs in his hometown, future 175 pound World title challenger Doyle Baird and Nessim Cohen.

As pointed out by others Mike would slowly see the fight fall away after the 5th round as Monzon slowly took over. McCallum would try and turn it around but find Carlos just too good for him.

I think the last few round would resemble the the last 3 rounds of Hopkins-Trinidad with Monzon pounding McCallum against the ropes similar to Monzon-Griffith I:

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Ask and ye shall receive, and then some. A late contender for POTY old mate. No-one has ever broken down fights in here like you. I could picture the battle and intangibles as i read hahaha.

McCallum does only give away an inch and a half in reach and matches him in height. Excepting an aging Benvenuti Monzon had decent to huge height and reach advantages in his big wins so that's a potential spanner in the works given he's a superb technician. As you point out tho, Monzon himself just brings so much to the table. Monzon has a significant power advantage here even if they both have exceptional mandibles and fine recovery. I'd pay to see this one.